Signal-lantern.



A. A. ZIEGLER.

SIGNAL LANTERN.

APPLICATION FILED Nov: 6, 1915.

1,209,793. Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed November 6, 13?.5.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED A. ZmcLnR, a citizen of? the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Signal-Lanterns, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in electric illuminating units, and

has particular reference to units of the character designed for use in connection with railway signal-lanterns, being an improvement on my invention disclosed in Letters Patent #1,173,239, dated Feb. 29, 1916, granted to me. v i

In the type of signal-lanterns herein d1sclosed it is customary to provide a pair of lamps, and to associate therewith an automatic circuit-controlling mechanism for the lamp-circuits, whereby in case one of the lamps fails, the other will be automatically introduced into the lighting-circuit.

It has heretofore been customary to mount the circuit-controlling mechanism upon a supporting-base or block and to secure it thereto by screws or other fastening-means; and also to connect said mechanism with the lamp-sockets by means of conductorwires which must be terminally connected or disconnected each time said mechanism is applied to or removed from its supportingblock.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of means whereby the automatic circuit-controlling means, in assembled condition, ,may be quickly mounted upon its supportingblock and supported by suitable clamping-means which means is arranged to electrically connect said mechanism with the lamp-sockets, and hence with the lamp.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an illuminating unit embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the automatic circuit-controller. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 41. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the circuit-controller, and, Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits.

My improved illuminating unit, as herein embodied, includes as its broad and essential elements of construction, a lamp-block A, whereon the lamps are mounted, and an automatic circuit-controlling mechanism, generally designated at C, the component parts of which are associated in assembled condition on the conductor-frame B. The

Specification of "Letter: Ea

. lating gaskets 22 whereon are seated metallic washers 23, through which the conductorscrews 24; and 25 are passed, which screws extend downwardly through the block, and into .an L-shaped groove 26. A substantially L-shaped conductor-strip 27 arranged in the groove 26, is electrically connected with the members 19 and 20, as in Fig; 3. A bindingpost 28, is mounted upon the block to form a terminal for the conductor-strip 27. Within each socket is arranged a spring contact-sleeve 29.

A groove 30 extending diagonally across the bottom face of the block, receives a conductor-strip 31, the intermediate portion of which is offset as at 32, so that the conductors 27 and 81 may intersect, but will not contact with each other. A binding-post 33 is provided for the conductor-strip 31, and is mounted on the same side of the block as the binding-p0st 28. A screw, 34, electrically connects the conductor-strip 31 with the spring terminal 35, which .is mounted between the members 19 and 20, and is similar thereto.

As shown in detail in Fig. 2, the spring terminals are made as clips 19, 20, 35, each being formed from a strip of copper, or equivalent conducting material, bent U-shape, and its arms are directed inwardly, as at 85*, and then oppositely curved, producing a pair of opposed arcuate clampingjaws which will grippingly engage the diffixed, a plurality of cylindrical terminals attwo sockets, a frame supporting the means, and a plurality of cylindrical terminals for the circuits through said means, said cylindrical terminals being receivable in the spring-terminals whereby the said means is removably secured upon the block, and the circuits of the means connected in the circuits of the sockets.

4. In an electric illuminating-unit, a baseblock, lamp-sockets therein, a pair of binding-posts, a conductor connecting the first of said binding-posts with both of said sockets, conductors leading from each of'said sockets and insulated from said first-mentioned conductor, an automatic electro-magnetic mechanism operable for controlling the circuits through the lamp-sockets and aplurality of separated spring-terminals mounted upon the base-block and engageable with the said mechanism for removably securing the same upon the base-block, certain of said spring-terminals being positioned to electrically connect the mechanism with the conductors leading from the lamp-sockets, and another spring-terminal serving to electrically connect the mechanism with the second binding-post.

5. An electrical illuminating-unit including a lamp-block having a pair of lampsockets, an automatic electro-magnetic circuit controlling means for the circuits of the sockets, a frame supporting said means and with respect to which said means is fixed, a plurality of cylindrical terminals attached to the frame and the circuits thereof, a plurality of springclips secured upon the lamp-block and forming terminals for the circuits of the tWo sockets, said spring-clips being adapted to receive the cylindrical terminals for detachably securing the said means upon the block and'for connecting the circuits through said means with the. circuits of the two sockets, each of said springclips comprising a pair of opposed resilient clamping-jaws adapted to embrace a cylindrical terminal.

6. An electrical illuminating-unit including a lamp-block having a pair of lampsockets, an automatic electro-magnetic circuit controlling means for the circuits of the sockets, a frame supporting said means and with respect to which said means is tached to the frame and the circuits thereof, a plurality of spring-clips secured upon the lamp-block and forming terminals for the circuits of the two sockets, said spring-clips being adapted to receive the cylindrical terminals for detachably securing the said means upon the block and for connecting the circuits through said means with the circuits of the two sockets, each of said springclips comprising a pair of opposed resilient clamping-jaws adapted to embrace a cylindrical terminal, and stop-members formed upon certain of said spring-clips for holding the frame against movement in the plane of its base-portion.

7. An electrical illuminating-unit including a lamp-block, a pair of lamp-sockets therein, an automatic means for governing the circuits through the two lamp-sockets, a frame supporting said means, a cylindrical boss secured to the frame, a plurality of terminal sleeves mounted on the boss and a plurality of spring-terminals adapted to detachably receive the said sleeves, said spring-terminals being secured upon the lamp-block and being connected in the circuits of the lamp-sockets.

8. An electrical illuminating-unit including a lamp-block, a pair of lamp-sockets therein, an automatic electro-magnetic means for governing the circuits through the two lamp -sockets, a frame supporting said means, a cylindrical boss secured to the frame, a plurality of terminal sleeves mounted on the boss and a plurali ty ofspring-terminals adapted to detachably receive the said sleeves, said spring-terminals being secured'upon the lamp-block and being connected in the circuits of the lamp-sockets, each of said spring-clips being formed from a strip of metal bent into a U, having oppositely curved clamping-jaws, the terminally located spring-terminals having stop members which are engageable with the boss for holding the frame against transverse movement upon the block. 7

In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED A. ZIEGLER.

Witnesses:

Y B. J. Norms, H. I3. DAVIS.

electro magnetic 

